Minnesota · Scott County
Cedar Lake Fishing guide
Cedar Lake covers 793 acres in Scott County, Minnesota, reaching 13 ft at its deepest point. Secchi readings average around 1.7 ft of visibility. The Minnesota DNR has surveyed the lake 13 times, most recently in 2021, with walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge in the nets.
DNR survey data
Fish species
WalleyeLast stocked 2025Excellent numbers12per gill net12"Typical25"Biggest
Lengths measured · 65 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 65 fish
2021Lengths measured · 22 fish
2015Lengths measured · 36 fish
2012Lengths measured · 4 fish
2010Only 4 fish measured that year — too few to read as a shape.
No recent survey rating.
Last recorded in the 1990 survey and not seen since.
BluegillJust a few22.8per trap net7"Typical10"Biggest
Lengths measured · 268 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 268 fish
2021Lengths measured · 297 fish
2015Lengths measured · 124 fish
2010Lengths measured · 2046 fish
2008CrappieOne of the best around66.5per trap net8"Typical12"Biggest
Lengths measured · 1214 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 1214 fish
2021Lengths measured · 2906 fish
2015Lengths measured · 2480 fish
2010Lengths measured · 1196 fish
2008Yellow perchExcellent numbers15per gill net9"Typical13"Biggest
Lengths measured · 60 fish
Recent · 2021Lengths measured · 60 fish
2021Lengths measured · 733 fish
2015Lengths measured · 10 fish
2010Lengths measured · 28 fish
2008Present and managed by the DNR. Standard survey gear does not count this species reliably.
Rates come from standard DNR survey gear (gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing), judged against statewide benchmarks for the same gear, so the same number of fish per net can read differently for two species. Where the standard gear can't count a species reliably, only presence and size are listed. Typical is the middle fish of those measured. Open a row for the full length spread, survey by survey.
How to fish Cedar Lake through the year
Walleye
- Spring
- Walleye are shallow, on and just off the spawning flats and the first green weeds. In 1.7 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Walleye are setting up on the outside weed edge, points and shallow structure.
- Summer
- Walleye are working the weed edge, points and any wind-blown structure. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Walleye are packing onto the sharpest breaks and points as the water cools, in big schools with short windows. A 13-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Largemouth bass
- Spring
- Largemouth are moving up into the warming bays and flats, staging around wood, docks and new weeds to spawn. In 1.7 ft of visibility, they sit shallower than you think.
- Early summer
- Largemouth are on the shallow spawning flats and protected bays, where beds go on firm bottom next to isolated cover.
- Summer
- Largemouth are in and along the weeds: cabbage and milfoil edges, matted cover and shade. With 100% of this lake 15 ft or shallower, the weed edge is the main event.
- Fall
- Largemouth are chasing bait back onto the flats and into the remaining green weeds, feeding hard and shallow before the freeze. A 13-ft bowl cools fast, so the fall window comes early here.
Season patterns for each species. Open the live map for today's wind, light and water temp.
Size history
Biggest fish by survey year
| Survey year | Walleye | Largemouth bass | Tiger muskellunge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25" | 20" | — |
| 2015 | 23" | 15" | 21" |
| 2012 | 12" | 19" | — |
| 2010 | 13" | — | 42" |
| 2008 | 26" | 21" | 39" |
| 2006 | 28" | — | 34" |
| 2003 | 27" | 7" | 18" |
| 2002 | 28" | 18" | 32" |
Longest fish measured by DNR survey crews in each year's nets. Survey gear samples the population, so the lake usually holds larger fish than any survey measured.
Suggested tackle
What to bring
Top presentations for this lake's structure and clarity:
Walleye · Soft plastics
Curly-Tail Grub on Jig
3" curly-tail grub threaded on a round jighead
Largemouth bass · Hardbaits
Hollow-Body Frog
3–3.5" hollow-body frog
Largemouth bass · Soft plastics
Texas-Rigged Worm
7" ribbon-tail or straight-tail plastic worm
Tiger muskellunge · Muskie & pike
Soft Rubber (Bull Dawg / Medusa)
10" soft rubber body bait
Tiger muskellunge · Muskie & pike
Big Paddletail Swimbait
10" hollow or solid-body paddletail swimbait
Full setups, including hooks, weights and line, are on the live map. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
DNR stocking records
Stocking history
| Year | Species | Stocked |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tiger Muskellunge | 400 fingerlings |
| 2025 | Walleye | 890 yearlings |
| 2024 | Tiger Muskellunge | 200 fingerlings |
| 2023 | Tiger Muskellunge | 339 fingerlings · 134 yearlings |
| 2023 | Walleye | 23,532 fingerlings |
| 2019 | Walleye | 18,829 fingerlings |
| 2018 | Tiger Muskellunge | 793 fingerlings |
| 2017 | Walleye | 25,017 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Tiger Muskellunge | 924 fingerlings |
| 2016 | Walleye | 780,000 fry |
MN DNR · in their words
From the 2021 survey
Cedar Lake is 793-acres (793 littoral acres) with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Cedar is located northeast of New Prague in southern Scott County. Cedar is managed for Walleye, Bluegill, and Black Crappie, but also supports catchable populations of Largemouth Bass and Yellow Perch. Public water access is provided by DNR Parks and Trails at two locations on Cedar Lake. The eastern launch off of MN Hwy 13 provides two concrete ramps and parking spaces for 30 vehicle/trailers; while the northwestern launch off of county road 64 provides one concrete ramp and 4 vehicle/trailer parking spaces.
A Standard Survey (11 trap nets/4 gill nets) was conducted on Cedar Lake during the week of 8/2/2021 to assess the fishery. During the 2021 survey, Cedar was highly productive (green stained water), with poor water clarity, measured at 1.5 feet during the time of this survey. Despite these factors, dissolved oxygen remained above 4 parts per million (ppm) at an 11 foot depth during the survey period.
Read the full DNR narrative
Walleye in Cedar Lake are maintained through fingerling stocking in odd numbered years. During the 2021 survey Walleye were captured at high numbers (12/net), well above the expected catch rate of similar lakes in the area. There were 48 Walleye sampled in gill nets, with an average size of 13.2 inches and the largest measured at 25.6 inches. Size indices show a population currently skewed toward smaller Walleye. Growth rates were very fast compared to the statewide average, with an average length of 12.8 inches by age 2. While the current Walleye population is small in size, high abundances and fast growth should help contribute to plenty of angling opportunity in the coming years.
High numbers of Bluegill were sampled with trap nets (22.8/net), above the expected catch rate of similar lakes in the area. There were 251 Bluegill sampled in trap nets during the 2021 survey, with an average length of 7.3 inches and the largest measured at 10.1 inches. Bluegill size indices describe a balanced population (an intermediate between high numbers of small fish and few numbers of large fish). Bluegill growth was fast compared to similar lakes across the metro with an average length of 6.2 inches by age 2. Cedar Lake provides one of the few opportunities in the metro area where anglers may see Bluegill greater than 9 inches.
Extremely high numbers of Black Crappie were sampled with gill nets (120.8/net) and trap nets (66.6/net). Despite high numbers, the 2021 catch rates were similar to previous surveys on Cedar. There were 863 Black Crappie sampled during the 2021 survey, with an average length of 8.8 inches and the largest measured at 12.9 inches. Despite high numbers, size indices reveal a population mainly composed of catchable sized (8+ inches) individuals. Age analysis reveals surprising results with 97% of fish corresponding to one age group, the 2014 year class. The vast majority of Black Crappie in Cedar Lake were 7 years old, averaged 8.8 inches and exhibited slow growth. While Black Crappie fishing on Cedar Lake is currently excellent, having the vast majority of fish correspond to a single year class will likely leave a large void when those fish finally move through the system, that is until a new year class can replace them.
Largemouth Bass are present in Cedar Lake, although targeted boat-electrofishing did not occur during the 2021 survey. Incidental capture with trap and gill nets caught 6 Largemouth Bass, with an average length of 13.6 inches and the largest measured at 20.5 inches.
Yellow Perch were sampled with gill nets (15/net) near the expected catch rate of similar lakes. Average size of Yellow Perch in the 2021 survey was 9.8 inches, with the largest measured at 14.2 inches, both extremely high values compared to other metro lakes. Yellow Perch rarely provide good angling opportunity in the metro due to high abundances and small sizes, however, Cedar Lake is one of the few exceptions.
Other fish species sampled in low abundances were Black Bullhead, Brown Bullhead, Common Carp, Golden Shiner, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Bullhead.
Narrative text from the Minnesota DNR lake survey.
Recent reports
Cedar Lake fishing reports
Recent reports on Cedar Lake from guides, tournaments and regular anglers. Anything posted in the last two weeks also bumps the matching spots on the live map, so you'll see a "matches a recent report" tag on them.
Public water access
Getting on the water
- Cedar Lake (E) (trailer launch)
- Cedar Lake (NW) (trailer launch)
- Cedar Lake Fishing Pier (fishing pier)
DNR bathymetry
Cedar Lake depth map
Within 30 miles
Nearby lakes
- Pleasant Lake · 289 ac · 2.4 mi
- Cynthia Lake · 196 ac · 3.7 mi
- Fish Lake · 176 ac · 5.3 mi
- McMahon Lake · 187 ac · 6.2 mi
- Mill Pond · 18 ac · 7.4 mi
- Spring Lake · 592 ac · 7.9 mi
- Crystal Lake · 31 ac · 8.7 mi
- Cody Lake · 259 ac · 8.9 mi
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake reaches 13 ft at its deepest point; about 100% of the lake is littoral (15 ft or shallower).
How big is Cedar Lake?
Cedar Lake covers 793 acres with about 7.1 miles of shoreline.
How clear is the water in Cedar Lake?
DNR Secchi readings on Cedar Lake average 1.7 ft of visibility, on the stained end for a Minnesota lake.
What fish are in Cedar Lake?
Minnesota DNR surveys (most recently 2021) record walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, muskellunge, bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, tiger muskellunge.
Is Cedar Lake stocked?
Yes. The DNR stocked tiger muskellunge and walleye in 2025; the stocking table on this page lists every year back to 2016.
Does Cedar Lake have a public access?
Yes. Cedar Lake has 3 public access sites, including Cedar Lake (E) (trailer launch).
How big do walleye get in Cedar Lake?
The biggest walleye measured in recent DNR surveys taped 25"; the size-history table on this page tracks the biggest fish in each survey back to 2002.
When was Cedar Lake last surveyed?
The Minnesota DNR last surveyed Cedar Lake in 2021, the most recent of 13 surveys on record.
Page updated .
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